15. A Shot For A Memory
A SHOT FOR A MEMORY
CASH
The moment I received Paige’s text, my heart sank.
I knew something bad must have happened because I would never be at the top of the list of people in this group she would call.
She hadn’t told me the story yet, but I knew she would.
The sight of her in tears on the ground was enough to make me want to set the entire city on fire.
No one fucked with my girl.
Paige and I walked down to the lobby in a comfortable silence.
She was quiet, timid—which was not how I would ever describe Paige Brooks.
The girl was always full of smiles and wit.
She was outspoken in the hottest way possible, and I didn’t like whatever was running through her mind to make her a shell of usual herself.
I called us a ride to a bar I knew she would love. I could turn this night around.
We pulled up to Bootleggers and I got out first before reaching my hand in to help Paige out of the car.
“What is this place?” She smiled up at me.
“I came out here a few years ago with the guys and we ended up here. You’re going to love it.”
I laced our fingers together and pulled her through the front doors. Immediately, the sounds of country music and stale beer smell reminded me of home. I guided Paige to the bar and we snagged two seats with a great view of the dance floor.
I flagged down the bartender. “Four tequila shots and two drafts.” He nodded as Paige burst into laughter.
When the drinks were placed in front of me, I handed him my card and turned to Paige.
“One shot, then you tell me what happened.” Using my knuckle, I pushed one shot across the wooden bar.
She took a deep breath and threw the shot back like it was nothing before slamming the shot glass down.
I cocked my brow at her, waiting.
“I was on the dance floor alone and a guy got really handsy. He tried to drag me away, and I couldn’t find my sister or any of the girls so I panicked and ran.”
My blood ran cold. “How did you get away?” I gritted out.
She winced. “I kneed him in the balls as hard as I could.”
I barked out a laugh. “That’s my girl.”
Paige froze at my statement. It wasn’t the best choice of words, but I had no regrets.
I tipped my shot back and chased it with the cold beer.
Paige peered out over the dance floor but was silent as she sipped her drink. She turned back to me with a devious look in her eye.
That was the way I liked Paige Brooks. Always plotting trouble.
“Do you remember the bonfire party my senior year of high school?”
“The one where I got a call from Taylor at two in the morning begging me to pick you up so your brothers didn’t find out that you were drunk? No, I forgot,” I deadpanned.
“Great, so you remember.” She smiled.
“I haven’t forgotten anything between us, P.”
“Nothing?”
“Nope.” I threw back the other shot. “I remember you taking my hand and dragging me in front of the truck, demanding I dance with you in the headlights before I took you home.”
She threw her head back laughing. Her laugh was like a drug.
“I mean, you did it.”
“I would’ve done anything you asked me to,” I whispered.
Her eyes met mine, her smile fading.
“Why did we stop being friends?” she whispered back, picking her shot up and throwing it back. I gestured for the bartender for four more before turning to her.
“It got too risky.”
She scrunched her brow at me, swaying a little as the tequila started hitting her system.
I shook my head. “Never mind.”
“No, no.” She poked me in the chest. “You have to tell me.”
“Okay.” I eyed the fresh shots in front of us. “Take a shot and tell a truth.”
“Deal.” Her smile was full of mischief as she pushed a shot forward.
I threw it back. “I wasn’t allowed to be near you, so after you kissed me I kept my distance.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your dad and brothers told me you were off-limits.”
Paige pouted at that, and this time I didn’t fight the urge to tug on her bottom lip. Her eyes tracked my thumb as I reached up and ran it along her glossed pink lips.
“It was really hard for me, P. I wanted to be around you all the time.”
I pushed a shot toward her.
“Why are you so hell-bent on hooking up with a stranger?” I asked.
She took her shot and let out a breath. “I’m not.
I want what my sister has, and I’m not going to find that in Ashton Creek.
I’m jealous I’ll never get that big love story and lifelong happiness.
But I also want to feel close to someone and not sleep alone every single night.
If I never meet anyone, I’ll die alone. It also doesn’t have to be a stranger. ”
Her eyes fell to the glass in front of her as she spun it in her fingers. Sadness crept in her voice which made my heart ache. I took her chin in my fingers and tilted her head up so I could look right into her eyes.
“You’re going to find it, baby. You deserve the best love story.”
Paige moved to lean in, but paused right before our lips met. The sound of the shot glass sliding against wood rang in my ears.
“Drink up, cowboy.”
I took the shot without breaking eye contact.
“Why did you drag me out of the bar that night at the Iron Saddle when Lottie and Owen were in town?”
“I didn’t want you to leave with that guy,” I said simply.
“Why?”
“He didn’t deserve you.”
“Is that the only reason?”
I paused and took another shot. “No. I couldn’t stand the thought of another guy touching you when I couldn’t.”
She sat back with a sly smile, as if I fell right into her trap. With my edge completely gone and my inhibitions out the window, I grabbed her chair and scooted her closer to me. Her legs trapped between mine, I wrapped my arm around her waist.
Lowering my mouth to her ear, I whispered, “Is that what you want to hear, baby? That I want you? That I’ve wanted you since the day you kissed me? That the day you came home from college I almost fell to my knees and begged you to give me a chance? Wanting you has never been the problem, Pip.”
Paige shifted, our noses brushing up against each other as our breath mingled. Her arms draped over my shoulders and her fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of my neck.
“That is exactly what I wanted to hear, Cash. That I haven’t been making this up in my head.”
I gestured for the bartender to bring us more shots without looking away from Paige.
“No, none of this has been just in your head.”
Paige leaned forward and crashed her mouth against mine. My fingers weaved into her hair before I fisted it and pulled it taut, arching her farther into me.
“Dance with me,” I whispered against her lips.
That’s the last thing I remembered before the night went dark.